Loading cartridges into a firearm magazine

ABSTRACT

A method to load cartridges into a firearm magazine, where the method provides and utilizes an article of manufacture comprising a hopper comprising at least one rotatable hopper plate, a hopper slide, a funnel, and a slide funnel.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The application is A Continuation-In-Part of a U.S. Non-ProvisionalApplication filed on Jan. 13, 2017, having Ser. No. 15/405,582, which isa Continuation of a U.S. Non-Provisional application filed on Nov. 5,2015, having a Ser. No. 14/933,835, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,612,070, whichis a Continuation-In-Part of a U.S. Non-Provisional application filed onNov. 22, 2013, and having a Ser. No. 14/088,117, now U.S. Pat. No.9,182,185, which claims priority to a US Provisional application filedon Nov. 22, 2012, having a Ser. No. 61/729,407. Each and every of thesecited applications is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure relates to an article of manufacture, and method usingthat article of manufacture, to load cartridges, i.e., ammunition, intoa firearm magazine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONS

Conventional loading of detachable firearm magazines generally requiresfinger strength, dexterity, or both. It can be difficult to load morethan a few magazines at a time by hand.

It is often a time consuming and tiring event to line up and then forcethe cartridges into the magazine. Such impediments discourage people wholack sufficient strength and/or dexterity from enjoying the sport ofshooting. Further even able-bodied people may avoid this recreationalactivity due to the time and hassle that is required to load enoughdetachable magazines to make the experience worthwhile.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A method to load cartridges into a firearm magazine is disclosed. Themethod provides an article of manufacture comprising a hopper comprisingat least one rotatable hopper plate, a hopper slide, a funnel, and aslide funnel. The method further includes selecting a firearm, selectinga caliber of ammunition compatible with the firearm, selecting acartridge magazine compatible with the selected firearm and caliber,mounting the selected cassette onto the article of manufacture,releasably attaching the selected cartridge magazine to the mountedcassette, disposing (N) cartridges comprising the selected caliber intothe hopper, agitating the hopper plate to place an (i)th cartridge intoa desired orientation while in the hopper, wherein the (i)th cartridgeis one of the (N) cartridges, moving the (i)th cartridge from the hopperand into the hopper slide, wherein the (i)th cartridge maintains thedesired orientation when being moved from the hopper into the hopperslide, moving the (i)th cartridge from the hopper slide and into thefunnel, wherein the (i)th cartridge maintains the desired orientationwhen being moved from the hopper slide into the funnel, moving the (i)thcartridge from the funnel and into the slide funnel, wherein the (i)thcartridge maintains the desired orientation when being moved from thefunnel and into the slide funnel, moving the (i)th cartridge from theslide funnel and into the mounted cassette, wherein the (i)th cartridgemaintains the desired orientation when being moved from the slide funnelslide and into the cassette, and moving the (i)th cartridge from themounted cassette and into the releasably attached firearm magazine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A comprises a first perspective view of Applicant's apparatus forloading cartridges into a firearm magazine;

FIG. 1B recites a second perspective view of Applicant's apparatus forloading cartridges into a firearm magazine;

FIG. 1C is a side view of Applicant's apparatus for loading cartridgesinto a firearm magazine;

FIG. 2 is a first top view of the hopper portion of FIG. 1B;

FIG. 3 is a second top view of the hopper portion of FIG. 1B including acover plate portion;

FIG. 4 is a top view of an adjustable disk portion, with two separatedisks;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an adjustable disk portion, with twoseparate disks;

FIG. 6 is a top view of a bottom disk of FIGS. 4 and 5;

FIG. 7 illustrates a nub portion and a ramp portion of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a top view of the top disk portion of FIGS. 4 and 5;

FIG. 9 illustrates a single-piece static slot disk version of theadjustable disk of FIGS. 4 and 5;

FIG. 10 is a side view of the hopper portion of FIG. 1B;

FIG. 11 illustrates a first cassette portion;

FIG. 12 is a top view of the cassette portion of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 shows a bottom view of the cassette portion of FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 shows an interior view of the cassette portion of FIG. 11;

FIG. 15 illustrates a first portion of a cassette that mates to a secondhalf of the cassette of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 shows the cam portion of FIG. 14;

FIG. 17 illustrates a second cassette that is used for an AR15 magazine;

FIG. 18 shows a front view of a third cassette used for 40 caliber and 9millimeter magazines;

FIG. 19 is a side view of the cassette of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a first interior view of the cassette of FIG. 18;

FIG. 21 a second interior view of the cassette of FIG. 18 showing apistol cartridge 44 being inserted into a magazine;

FIG. 22 illustrates rotation of a cam of the cassette of FIG. 11 pushinga cartridge 44 into an attached magazine 47;

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the cassette of FIG. 18, wherein acartridge has been pushed into, and seated in, an attached magazine;

FIG. 24 is a front view of an counter for displaying a number of loadedrounds;

FIG. 25 summarizes certain initial steps in Applicant's method usingApplicant's article of manufacture;

FIG. 26 summarizes certain additional steps in the method of FIG. 25;

FIG. 27 summarizes certain additional steps in the method of FIGS. 25and 26;

FIG. 28A illustrates a cartridge length adjustment feature set for a.308 round; and

FIG. 28B illustrates the cartridge length adjustment feature of FIG. 28Aset for a 9 mm round.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Applicant's article of manufacture and method using same are describedin preferred embodiments in the following description with reference tothe Figures, in which like numbers represent the same or similarelements. Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,”“an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature,structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodimentis included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus,appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” andsimilar language throughout this specification may, but do notnecessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.

The described features, structures, or characteristics of Applicant'sdisclosure may be combined in any suitable manner in one or moreembodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details arerecited to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments ofApplicant's invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize,however, that Applicant's disclosure may be practiced without one ormore of the specific details, or with other methods, components,materials, and so forth.

In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations arenot shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects ofApplicant's disclosure, and it will be appreciated by those skilled inthe art that it is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, andequivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope ofApplicant's disclosure as defined by the appended claims and theirequivalents as supported by the following disclosure and drawings.

Schematic flow charts FIGS. 25, 26, and 27, are generally set forth aslogical flow chart diagrams. As such, the depicted order and labeledsteps are indicative of one embodiment of the presented method. Othersteps and methods may be conceived that are equivalent in function,logic, or effect to one or more steps, or portions thereof, of theillustrated method.

Additionally, the format and symbols employed are provided to explainthe logical steps of the method and are understood not to limit thescope of the method. Although various arrow types and line types may beemployed in the flow chart diagrams, they are understood not to limitthe scope of the corresponding method. Indeed, some arrows or otherconnectors may be used to indicate only the logical flow of the method.For instance, an arrow may indicate a waiting or monitoring period ofunspecified duration between enumerated steps of the depicted method.

Additionally, the order in which a particular method occurs may or maynot strictly adhere to the order of the corresponding steps shown.

Referring now to FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C, Applicant's magazine loadingdevice 100 comprises a hopper 110 wherein cartridges, i.e., ammunition,can be staged before being loaded into one or more detachable firearmmagazines. In certain embodiments, hopper 110 can hold at least 200cartridges. In certain embodiments, hopper 110 can hold more than 200cartridges.

In certain embodiments, the detachable firearm magazine is configured tohold about six rounds. In yet other embodiments, the detachable firearmmagazine is configured to hold at least ten rounds. In still otherembodiments, the detachable firearm magazine is configured to holdthirty rounds.

Further, in certain embodiments, Applicant's magazine loading device 100comprises a funnel 120 and a hopper slide 130, said hopper slide havinga first end and a second end, wherein the first end is attached to thefunnel 120, and wherein the second end is attached to funnel slide 135,which sets atop and is attached to cassette 140.

FIG. 1B illustrates hopper 110, funnel 120, funnel slide 130, cassette140, and stand 150. In certain embodiments, hopper 110 is configured tobe operated by a motor. In certain embodiments, the hopper 110 can beoperated by a hand crank 102 (note that hand crank 102 is not shownattached to hopper 110 in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1C shows a first motor 160 operatively coupled to a rotatable diskdisposed within the hopper 110, and a second motor 170 operativelycoupled to the cassette 140. FIG. 1C further illustrates slide funnel135 which includes a cartridge adjustment length 180

In certain embodiments one or more internal surface(s) of funnel 120and/or an hopper slide 130, is formed to include a plurality of flutes.Cartridges moving through these structures travel between two flutes.This being the case, the flutes keep rounds passing therethrough in thedesired orientation, i.e. where the tapered-bullet end leads theflat-bottomed cartridge housing.

Referring to FIG. 2, hopper 110 comprises an outside shell 8, which iscalled a bucket. Referring to FIGS. 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, at leastone rotatable disk 6 is moveably disposed inside bucket 8, which alignsand moves the cartridges out of the hopper and into the funnel 120.

Referring to FIG. 3, a cover plate 9 is disposed over a portion ofhopper 110, and is attached to the bucket 8 to retain the cartridges inthe bucket while they are agitated by rotating disk 6.

Cassette 140 is configured to releasably fixture a firearm magazine 47(FIG. 17) thereto. In certain embodiments, cassette 140 is operated by ahand crank. In certain embodiments, cassette 140 is operated by a motor170 (FIG. 1C).

In certain embodiments, cassette 140 (FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C) isdetachable from apparatus 100. Both cassette 140 and magazine 47 (FIG.17) are selected based upon a caliber of ammunition to be loaded. Thisbeing the case, article of manufacture 100 can be used with a pluralityof different magazines, cartridge configurations, and cartridgecalibers.

In certain embodiments, the apparatus 100 can utilize cartridge calibersfrom .380 auto to 308. In certain embodiments, apparatus 100 can loadsmaller caliber cartridges into a magazine, such as the 22 Long Rifleand other small rounds. In certain embodiments, apparatus 100 isconfigured to utilize larger caliber cartridges, such as shot guncartridges and 50 caliber cartridges. In certain embodiments, cassette140 is configured to releasably attach different types of pistol andrifle magazines. In all instances, the cassette 140 and the magazine 47(FIG. 17) are selected based upon the caliber of rounds to be loaded,and type of forearm to be utilized.

Rotation of hopper bucket 8 (FIG. 2) agitates the rounds staged in thehopper. Such agitation causes the staged rounds to flip and rotate.

Only cartridges that have been placed in a correct orientation by thehopper rotation are able to pass out of the hopper and into the hopperslide, still having the correct orientation. By “correct orientation,”Applicant means that the rounds passing through the funnel 120, andthrough the hopper slide 130, and through the slide funnel 135, andthrough the cassette 140, are inserted into an attached magazine in anorientation ready to be subsequently moved from the magazine and into afiring chamber of a weapon bearing said magazine.

Referring to FIG. 1B, hopper slide 130 is a conduit ONLY for cartridgeshaving said correct orientation to be moved out of the hopper anddisposed the cassette. In certain embodiments, hopper slide 130comprises a downwardly sloping slide. In certain embodiments, hopperslide 130 comprises a downwardly sloping tube. In certain embodiments,hopper slide 130 is positioned on a back portion of hopper 110.

Referring to FIG. 1B, a frame 150 of the magazine loading device allowsfor all parts of the invention to be held in a static relationship toone another. Further, frame 150 allows a user to configure the saiddevice based on the user's preference and the size of the magazine to beloaded.

In certain embodiments, motor 170 (FIG. 1C) operates cassette 140 (FIG.1B). In certain embodiments, a electronic control module (ECM) 2400(FIG. 24), which consists of an input/output screen with various buttonsor dials to allow the user to interface with the electronics of themachine, is situated such that it can connect to either the left orright hand side of the hopper depending on the users' preference.

In certain embodiments, the ECM 2400 allows for various inputs andoutputs to display a number of cartridges the user wishes to load into amagazine and a number of cartridges that have already been loaded. Incertain embodiments, the ECM 2400 enables counting and stores data thatit processes. Further, in certain embodiments, the ECM 2400 iscompatible with wireless technology, such as the use of WIFI andBluetooth, to allow the user to employ another electronic device tointerface with the machine.

Sensor 1100 (FIG. 11) is placed in and on the cassette 140 (FIG. 1B) toallow exchanging of data with the ECM 2400 via a connector. In certainembodiments, ECM 2400 is configured to determine if cam 35 (FIGS. 14,16) has made a full rotation when inserting the (i)th round into theattached cassette.

Referring again to FIG. 2, slot 5 allows a cartridge to pass out ofhopper 110, and move into hopper slide 130. An aperture formed inrotatable disk 6 facilitates connection of disk 6 to motor 160 or handcrank 102. Grommets 7 through which a screw connects hopper 110 andframe 150, wherein the corresponding grommets 7 are disposed on theopposing side of the bucket to connect the bucket to both sides ofhopper 110. Grommets 8 are positioned at an angle to move the bucket upand down along the centerline of hopper 110 and used for the connectionof cover plate 9. In certain embodiments, cover plate 9 (FIG. 3)attaches to hopper 110 at an angle to prevent unloaded cartridges fromfalling out of hopper 110.

Referring to FIGS. 4, 5, 6, and 8, in certain embodiments the rotatabledisk 6 comprises two interconnected, rotatable disks. The interconnecteddisks can be adjusted to accommodate different sizes of cartridges. Incertain embodiments, four (4) slots are configured to match a width of a.380 cartridge. In certain embodiments, more than 4 or fewer than 4slots can be incorporated into the disk for different types ofcartridges. In certain embodiments, slots in full-open configuration 16match a width for a .308 cartridge.

A slot 11 (FIG. 4) defines an opening 19 (FIG. 8) on a top disk 50 (FIG.5) and a grommet 18 (FIG. 6) on bottom disk 55 (FIG. 6), wherein a screwis employed to fixture the two disks together as one piece once the topdisk 50 is rotated to a proper position to expand the slots intofully-closed configuration 10 to fit the length of the selectedcartridge. In some embodiment, two slots 11 are sufficient. In certainembodiments, more or less slots 11 may be needed.

In certain embodiments, a nub 12 (FIGS. 6, 7) aligns cartridges properlyto be disposed into a cassette 140 (FIG. 1B) and an attached magazine 47(FIG. 17). Nub 12 can be positioned from about one to about twentymillimeters away from an inside wall of the bucket depending on the typeof cartridges intended to be used in the machine.

FIG. 7 shows a cartridge 700 comprising a jacket 710 and a taperedbullet extending outwardly from jacket 710. In the illustratedembodiment of FIG. 7, a flat end of jacket 710 is disposed within hopper110 such that the flat end is flush with nub 12. The orientation ofcartridge 700 shown in FIG. 7 illustrates a “proper orientation” ofcartridge 700. When cartridge 700 is dropped into funnel 120, cartridgeenters funnel 120 with the tapered-bullet end leading.

When cartridge 700 is moved from funnel 120 into hopper slide 130,cartridge 700 maintains while moving the “proper orientation” with thetapered-bullet end leading. When cartridge 700 is moved from hopperslide 130 into slide funnel 135, cartridge 700 maintains while movingthe “proper orientation” with the tapered-bullet end leading. Whencartridge 700 is moved from the slide funnel 135 into cassette 140,cartridge 700 maintains the “proper orientation” with the tapered-bulletend leading.

In certain embodiments, nub 12 is formed to include member 17 extendingupwardly from the disk, wherein member 17 is shaped as a rectangle withone flat side in line with the back of the slot or as a triangle shapewith one of the flat sides in line with the back of the slot.

In certain embodiments, on an aspect of the nub 12 that faces into theslot, an outside corner, i.e., the corner that faces the slot and isclosest to the inside wall of the bucket, is formed at a diagonal withno cut at the bottom of the nub 12 and the deepest part of the cut atthe top of the nub 12. Further, the cut can be anywhere in between about10 degrees off the Z/X plane to about 80 degrees off the Z/X plane. Inthe X/Y plane, the cut can also be angled anywhere in between about 10to about 80 degrees off the plane.

In addition, in certain embodiments, the face that is created by saidcut can be flat. In certain embodiments, the face can have a concaved,convex, or a combination thereof to manipulate the cartridges that arenot aligned correctly to pass by nub 12 and out of the slot either inconfiguration 10 or configuration 16.

In certain embodiments, cartridges include a bullet portion that isformed to include a tapering “tip” to facilitate travel of the bulletthrough the barrel of a gun, and to achieve favorable flight dynamics.Nub 12 lets each bullet tip pass by.

As a general matter, a cartridge is formed to include a large round flatback. In certain embodiments, the above rotatable disks 50 and 55 areconfigured to dispose nub 12 to create a space between the nub 12 andthe bucket, wherein the space is small enough to prevent an entirecartridge, which is aligned correctly with its primer positioned againstnub 12, to move through. Then, the cartridge is carried inside the plateslot either in configuration 10 or 16 up to slot 5 in the bucket.Subsequently, the cartridge falls out of hopper 110 and into hopperslide 130 by gravity.

Referring again to FIGS. 7 and 8, nub 12 seats fully against a diskportion 20 when the slot 16 is in full-open configuration. Both elements17 and 20 facilitate cartridges, which have traveled past nub 12 andtraveled up the ramp like part 17, to continue to travel to the bottomof hopper 110 without getting hung up on an edge. When the adjustabledisks are configured either in configuration 10, 16, or at anyintermediate point in between the edge of the top disk 50, the frontpart 22 of the slot is shaped in a way that does not interfere with thecartridge being able to fully seat into the slot.

In certain embodiments, a rectangular member 13 extends upwardly fromthe disk, and agitates the cartridges to ensure all cartridges can bealigned properly to fall into the slots in configuration 10 and to becaught by nub 12. In certain embodiments, two members 13 are sufficient.In certain embodiments, more or fewer members 13 are utilized.

In certain embodiments, an aperture 15 is formed on the top of the diskto permit a shaft of a motor 160 (FIG. 1C) to pass therethrough.

In certain embodiments, each of two apertures 14 includes a bump-up anda grommet, wherein the two apertures 14 are symmetrically placed on eachside of aperture 15. A shaft of a motor connects to cover plate 9through the bump-ups and grommets. In certain embodiments, aperture 14can have a different configuration due to a slip-on and lock in placeconnector being incorporated onto the back of plate 9.

Referring to FIG. 9, in certain embodiments, rotatable disk 6 is formedas an integral unit comprising a fixed dimension slot to accommodate aspecific caliber of ammunition or a small range of ammunition of roughlythe same length. For example, a one-piece-static-slot disk 24 isconfigured to accommodate both 7.62 mm×39 mm and .223 inch caliberammunition.

In certain embodiments, a number of slots 23 is greater than 4, and islimited by a length of the cartridges to be loaded into the hopper 110.Further, the number of slots is further limited by the size of thehopper, and the room required for ramp 24 to manipulate the cartridgesto fall back to the bottom of hopper 110. In certain embodiments, theone-piece disk can be constructed for nearly any caliber of ammunitionfrom 22 Long Rifle or smaller up to 50 Cal or bigger without anyrestrictions.

Referring to FIG. 10, in certain embodiments, hopper 110 is disposed onframe 150 at about a 60 degree angle from horizontal. In certainembodiments, hopper 110 and all of its associated parts are angled andconfigured such that they are at an angle from about 5 to about 90degrees above horizontal. In certain embodiments, a drive motor 160 isan L-shaped gear motor.

In certain embodiments, on the back of the bucket inline with anddirectly behind the slot 5 at the top of the hopper 110, an L-shapedpipe/tube with a side facing the slot 5 cut open connects to the slot,through which the aligned cartridges fall into. Further, due to thecombination of gravity and momentum, the aligned cartridge are directedvia the L-shape down the back of hopper 110 through a tube or open facedslide that curves under hopper 110 and connects onto the back of hopperslide 130. In certain embodiments, many other ways of connecting andlocking these said parts into place can be employed. Funnel slide 130incorporates a bump-out part on the face that the cartridges impact oncethey have come to the end of the said slide, wherein this bump-out partlimits cartridges from flipping up and becoming jammed in the cassette140 by becoming misaligned.

Referring to FIG. 11, cassette 140 (FIG. 1B) releasably attaches afirearm magazine 47 (FIG. 17), and pushes cartridges into that attachedmagazine 47 (FIG. 17). In certain embodiments, cassette 140 is operatedby a hand crank 104 (FIG. 1A) In other embodiments, cassette 140 isoperated by motor 170 (FIG. 1C).

Referring now to FIGS. 13, 14, and 16, in certain embodiments, aninternal cam 35 (FIG. 14) pushes cartridges into a releasably attachedmagazine 47 (FIG. 17), and an interface part 28 (FIG. 11) connects adriving device and the internal cam.

Further, in certain embodiments interface part 28 is formed to includean indented and keyed socket, which can utilize hand crank 104 (FIG. 1A)to operate the cassette 140.

Spring-loaded finger actuated clip 29 (FIG. 15) releasably fixtures amagazine. Four (4) small spring steal plates 30 (FIG. 11), two on eachside of the cassette 140, are used to retain and allow retaining pins 33(FIGS. 13, 14) to be move retaining pins from an extended orientation toa recessed orientation, i.e. to their starting position.

Referring again to FIG. 13, in certain embodiments retaining pins 33 areformed to include a collar that allows them to be retained in cassette140 wall without falling completely out of the holes wherein theyreside. Retaining pins 33 can move freely out of the wall when cam 35 isrotated to push cartridges down. Retaining pins 33 move back into thewalls of the cassette 140 after a cartridge passes by. Then, retainingpins 33 are pushed back into place by spring steel plates 30, to beready for a next cartridge to be held in place until cam 35 rotatesagain to push that next cartridge downwardly.

Referring again to FIG. 12, slot 32 allows cartridges to enter cassette140 (FIG. 1B) from slide funnel 135, when cassette 140 and slide funnel135 are connected.

Referring again to FIG. 13, in certain embodiments, when no magazine isinserted in cassette 140, retaining pins 33 hold the cartridge in placeand prevent that cartridge from falling out the bottom of cassette 140.

Referring again to FIG. 14, in certain embodiments, cassette 140 (FIG.1B) has the front pins disposed slightly lower than the back ones.Further, a gear 34 interlocks with a corresponding gear that isconnected to the above said external cam interface part 28.

As a general matter; the gears are configured in a 1:1 gear ratio. Incertain embodiments, other gear ratios are utilized in other cassetteconfigurations. Referring to FIG. 15, a gear 36, which directly connectsto interface device 28, interfaces with gear 34 (FIG. 14), which isdirectly connected to cam 35. Additionally in certain embodiments,cassette 140 includes alignment pins 37, which are used to align andstrengthen the two parts of the cassette 140.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 16, cam 35 comprises three lobes.In other embodiments, more than 3 lobes or fewer than 3 lobes areutilized. Further, cam 35 is formed to include a keyed hole to allowoperation by a keyed shaft. In certain embodiments, cam 35 is configuredfor a 7.62×39 round, but can also be utilized for a 0.223 round.Further, the drive direction of cam 35 is counterclockwise, and aL-shaped cutout is utilized to allow the cartridges to fall into thecassette aligned atop the magazine.

In certain embodiments, with rifle magazines, cartridges are aligneddirectly above the magazine and are pushed directly down until thecartridges are disposed within the magazine. With pistol magazines, thecartridges are placed to be loaded half way forward toward the front ofthe magazine and then the back end of the cartridge are pushed downtoward the back of the magazine until the said cartridges are seated.

Referring to FIGS. 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, and 23, a L-shaped arm 39 (FIG.20) pivots as cam 38 is rotated. When cam 38 pushes the back of thecartridge, one of the lobes of cam 38 contacts the top of arm 39. Thecontact continues to push forward the top of arm 39 to pivot around apoint 42 (FIG. 20) on arm 39, and moves the bottom part of arm 39 topush against the front of the cartridge, which is then urged backwardly.Together with cam 38 pushing the back of the cartridge, the cartridge ispushed into magazine 43 (FIG. 21) and disposed in magazine 43 (FIG. 22).

In certain embodiments, micro-switches are installed in cassette 140 todetect the insertion of a magazine into the magazine well, and to detectthe insertion of a cartridge into the magazine.

FIGS. 25, 26, and 27, summarize Applicant's method to load one or morefirearm magazines using Applicant's article of manufacture. Referringnow to FIG. 25, in step 2510 the method provides an automated cartridgeloading device having a hopper comprising at least one rotatable disk, afunnel 120 to receive cartridges from the hopper 110, a hopper slide 130to deliver cartridges from the funnel 120 to a slide funnel 135 and thenfrom the slide funnel 135 to the cassette 140, and which releasablyfixtures a firearm magazine, and comprises a rotatable cam.

In step 2520, the method selects a firearm and a caliber of cartridgesto load. In step 2530 and based upon the selection of caliber, themethod selects a firearm magazine 47 (FIG. 17) to accept the selectedcaliber of ammunition.

In step 2540 and based upon the selected firearm, caliber and magazine,the method selects a cassette to accept the selected magazine. In step2550, the method mounts the selected cassette to Applicant's article ofmanufacture. Further in step 2550, the method sets cartridge lengthadjustment 2810 (FIG. 28A) and 2820 (FIG. 28B) for the length of theselected rounds.

For example and referring now to FIG. 28A. FIG. 28A shows cassette 2810which is formed to include a cartridge length adjustment knob 2812. InFIG. 28A, knob 2812 is shown disposed in the far left portion of slot2814. FIG. 28A illustrates the positioning of cartridge lengthadjustment knob 2712 for a .308 round.

Referring now to FIG. 28B, cartridge length adjustment knob 2812 isshown disposed in a far right portion of slot 2814. FIG. 28B illustratesthe positioning of cartridge length adjustment knob 2712 for a 9 mmround. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, a .308 round issignificantly longer in dimension than is a .9 mm round. In otherembodiments, the cartridge adjustment knob is automatically set when theselected cassette is attached.

Referring once again to FIG. 25, in step 2560 the method determineswhether a single hopper plate is used. If the method elects to utilize asingle, molded hopper plate, then the method transitions from step 2560to step 2580 wherein the method, based upon a caliber selected, selectsa molded hopper plate. The method transitions from step 2580 to step2610 (FIG. 26).

Alternatively, if the method elects to utilize a pair of adjustablerotatable disks, then the method transitions from step 2560 to step 2570wherein the method provides a pair of adjustable rotatable disks. Themethod transitions from step 2570 to step 2610 (FIG. 26).

Referring now to FIG. 26, in step 2610 the method places a plurality ofcartridges having the selected caliber into the hopper. In step 2620,the method attaches a magazine configured to releasably contain (N)cartridges of the selected caliber. In certain embodiments, (N) is 5. Inother embodiments, (N) is greater than 5.

In step 2630, the method rotates the hopper disk to place an (i)thcartridge, where that (i)th cartridge is one of the plurality ofcartridges of step 2610, into a correct orientation, wherein (i) isinitially set to 1.

In step 2640, the method moves the (i)th cartridge from the hopper intothe hopper slide, wherein that (i)th cartridge maintains the correctorientation in the funnel. In step 2650, the method moves the (i)thcartridge from the hopper slide and into the funnel, wherein that (i)thcartridge maintains the correct orientation in the funnel.

In step 2655, the method moves the (i)th cartridge from the funnel andinto the slide funnel, wherein that (i)th cartridge maintains thecorrect orientation in the slide funnel

In step 2660, the method moves the (i)th cartridge from the slide funneland into the cassette, wherein that (i)th cartridge maintains thecorrect orientation in the cassette. In step 2670, the method moves the(i)th cartridge from the cassette and into the attached magazine,wherein that (i)th cartridge maintains the correct orientation in themagazine. The method transitions from step 2670 to step 2710 (FIG. 27).

Referring now to FIG. 27, in step 2710, the method determines if the(i)th cartridge was received by the attached magazine in the correctorientation. If the method determines in step 2710 that the (i)thcartridge was not received by the attached magazine in the correctorientation, then the method transitions to step 2720 wherein the methodprovides a visual alert using ECM 2400 (FIG. 24). The method transitionsfrom step 2720 to step 2730 wherein the method provides an auditoryalert. The method transitions from step 2730 to step 2740 and ends.

If the method determines in step 2710 that the (i)th cartridge wasreceived by the attached magazine in the correct orientation, then themethod transitions from step 2710 to step 2750 wherein the methoddetermines if (i) equals (N), i.e. if the attached magazine is full.

If the method determines in step 2750 that (i) does not equal (N), thenthe method transitions to step 2760 wherein the method sets (i) equal to(i+1). The method transitions from step 2760 to step 2630 and continuesas described herein.

Alternatively, if the method determines in step 2750 that (N) does equal(i), i.e. the attached magazine is full, then the method transitionsfrom step 2750 to step 2770 wherein the method determines whether toload another magazine with a different caliber of cartridges. If themethod determines that another magazine configured for a differentcaliber is selected, then the method transitions from step 2770 to step2550 and continues as described herein. Alternatively, if the methoddetermines that another magazine configured for a different caliber isnot selected, then the method transitions from step 2770 to step 2780wherein the method determines whether to load another magazineconfigured for the same caliber.

If the method elects to load another magazine of the same caliber, thenthe method transitions from step 2780 to step 2550 and continues asdescriber herein. Alternatively, if the method elects not to loadanother magazine of the same caliber, then the method transitions fromstep 2780 to step 2740 and ends.

While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have beenillustrated in detail, it should be apparent that modifications andadaptations to those embodiments may occur to one skilled in the artwithout departing from the scope of Applicant's disclosure.

I claim:
 1. A method to load cartridges into a firearm magazine,comprising providing an article of manufacture comprising a hoppercomprising at least one rotatable hopper plate, a hopper slide, afunnel, and a slide funnel.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein saidproviding a hopper slide further comprises providing a hopper slideconfigured to include a plurality of flutes on an inner surface.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, wherein said providing a funnel further comprisesproviding a funnel configured to include a plurality of flutes on aninner surface.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: selecting afirearm; selecting a caliber of ammunition compatible with said firearm;selecting a cartridge magazine compatible with said selected firearm andcaliber; selecting a cassette compatible with said caliber of ammunitionand with said firearm; mounting said selected cassette onto said articleof manufacture; releasably attaching said selected cartridge magazine tosaid mounted cassette; disposing (N) cartridges comprising said selectedcaliber into said hopper, wherein (N) is between about 6 and about 30;agitating said hopper plate to place an (i)th cartridge into a desiredorientation while in said hopper, wherein said (i)th cartridge is one ofsaid (N) cartridges; moving said (i)th cartridge from said hopper andinto and through said hopper slide, wherein said (i)th cartridgemaintains said desired orientation when being moved through said hopperand when being moved through said hopper slide; moving said (i)thcartridge from said hopper slide and into and through said funnel,wherein said (i)th cartridge maintains said desired orientation whenbeing moved through said funnel; moving said (i)th cartridge from saidfunnel and into said slide funnel, wherein said (i)th cartridgemaintains said desired orientation when being moved from said funnel andinto said slide funnel; moving said (i)th cartridge from said slidefunnel and into said mounted cassette, wherein said (i)th cartridgemaintains said desired orientation when being moved from said slidefunnel slide and into said cassette; moving said (i)th cartridge fromsaid mounted cassette and into said releasably attached firearmmagazine.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein said selecting a cartridgemagazine further comprises selecting a cartridge magazine configured tohold six rounds.
 6. The method of claim 4, wherein said selecting acartridge magazine further comprises selecting a cartridge magazineconfigured to hold at least ten rounds.
 7. The method of claim 4,wherein said selecting a cartridge magazine further comprises selectinga cartridge magazine configured to hold thirty rounds.
 8. The method ofclaim 4, wherein said agitating said hopper plat further comprisesrotating said hopper plate.
 9. The method of claim 4, furthercomprising: determining if (i) equals (N); when (i) does not equal (N),set (i) equal to (i+1); repeating said agitating operation, said movingoperations, and said determining operation.
 10. The method of claim 3,further comprising; when (i) equals (N), determining whether to loadanother firearm magazine with cartridges comprising the selectedcaliber; when electing to load another firearm magazine with cartridgescomprising the selected caliber, repeating said releasably attachingoperation, said moving operations, and said determining operation. 11.The method of claim 4, further comprising: when not electing to loadanother firearm magazine with cartridges comprising the selectedcaliber, ascertaining whether to load a different caliber of ammunitioninto a firearm magazine configured to releasably store said differentcaliber of ammunition; when electing to load a different caliber ofammunition into a firearm magazine configured to releasably store saiddifferent caliber of ammunition, repeating said selecting operations,said mounting operation, said disposing operation, said releasablyattaching operation, said agitating, said moving operations, and saiddetermining operation.